Category Archives: magazine

Seventeen magazine was the first magazine published in the US marketed exclusively to teen girls. It was first published in 1944 and currently has over 2 million subscribers. Seventeen‘s major focus is on fashion, beauty, celebrity culture, and romance. The magazine also features a “traumarama” section where readers share embarassing stories, and of course a ton of different kind of quizzes.

Critical Evaluation

I really struggled with whether or not to include Seventeen because in my ideal world girls are reading magazines that are more about how awesome they are and less about how to impress guys and get the perfect eye makeup. Then I tried to put on my objective cap and remembered that even I liked to read Seventeen when I was a teenager, and it’s not like Sassy exists anymore, and I thought including the British or Australian girl positive magazines might be too much of a stretch, so Seventeen it is. I’m still not crazy about the hyper focus on what guys think and getting your look just right, but the quizzes are just as mindless and fun as they’ve ever been.

Reading Level/Interest Age

15+

Challenge Issues

Some parents may object to their teens reading Seventeen. The magazine is pretty subtle in it’s indoctrination of young girls into the cult of femininity and womanhood, but maybe that is what parents are objecting to. As with all the items in the collection we urge our users to make the right choices for themselves. The library does not monitor its user’s reading habits, nor does it support censorship. We take reconsideration requests very seriously and reserve the right to make final decisions after review by the board.

Reason for Inclusion

This is a wildly popular magazine that will appeal to many of our readers.

MAD magazine is a humor magazine published by DC Entertainment, a company probably best known for it’s comic books. MAD magazine runs comics, tv and movie spoofs, and specializes in satirical humor on public figures, pop culture, life and politics.

Critical Evaluation

I really don’t have much of an opinion of MAD. The mascot, Alfred E. Nueman, has always kind of given me the creeps and I never really got into it as a kid. It’s another one of those situations wherein I know that it is supposed to be funny but I don’t find it particularly amusing. There’s a ;ot of toilet humor, red neck jokes and other kinds of comedy that don’t really appeal to me. That’s okay though, this collection is supposed to be more about the needs of my users and less about my favorite forms of media.

Genre

humor

Curriculum Ties

n/a

Reading Level/Interest Age

13+

Challenge Issues

Like I mentioned above MAD uses a lot of toilet humor an bawdy language. Some parents will probably find it offensive. As with all of our titles we encourage each user to choose the medium and mode that is best for him or her. We follow the ALA Library Bill of Rights and defend censorship at all costs. All reconsideration requests are taken very seriously and the library reserves the right to make a final judgement after board review.

Reason for Inclusion

This a popular item at the library where I work. I included it to help the collection be more attractive to young men.

AltPress is a music magazine that showcases alternative rock music. The magazine contains interviews, tour dates, song charts, photos and information on new releases. Some of the featured bands in the past year include Green Day, Breathe Carolina, and Paramore. The magazine releases special issues on large events like Van’s Warped Tour and the Airwalk AP tour.

Critical Evaluation

This is a fine magazine for anyone interested in contemporary alternative rock. Of course, my word has to be taken with a grain of salt because I don’t listen to contemporary alternative rock and have barely heard of any of the bands featured in the magazine, but I think if I ever were to do such a thing, and cared to look at a magazine featuring my favorite bands, and was 15, this would be the magazine a that I would choose.

Genre

music

Curriculum Ties

n/a

Reading Level/Interest Age

14+

Challenge Issues

Parents may find some of the bands featured, and their pictures, unsavory. This magazine often features folks with lots of tattoos and piercings. The library takes no position on tattoos and piercings and strongly urges parents and teens to have an understanding on what is appropriate reading material. The library supports the ALA Library Bill of Rights and as such does not condone censorship. That said, forms for reconsideration are available, and the library reserves the right to make the final decision after board review.

Reason for Inclusion

My library is sadly lacking in material that appeals to young men. I did some research to see what the dudes were reading and this magazine was one of the results.